Genealogy Chat

I have my GGM living with her daughter and son in law in 1871 and she is shown as widow. She had been married for nearly 40 years by then to a John Steers who was a mariner. The only likely death I can find of John Steers right age and right reg district is 1873. This a silly question but - if he were say lost at sea, would the registration be later than the actual death? I just cant see this couple splitting up - they were a huge extended family in Rotherhithe. Thoughts please before I waste another £7.

Hi Heather, sorry can't answer that for you,just had a little flutter seeing your name asking about mariners,what with my Norfolk/mariner connections,i just had to have a second look. Glen

Don't know the answer to your question, Heather, but if he was lost at sea, what registration district are you expecting it to be in? Wouldn't it have to be where the body was recovered, or brought ashore? If no body, I thought it was a 7 year wait? Jay

If he was lost at sea would there actually be a GRO entry? In any case I can't see how it could be two years+ late.

Hi, My ancestor was lost at sea and there is no death cert for him. He is commemorated on his wife's grave. Gwynne

Very strange one isnt it?

Right guys, cant stand it, getting me credit card out now.

As the sayin goes 'this probably sounds silly but' Was there not some sort of ruling that if a person was not known to be physically dead, presumed missing / lost at sea was there not a time limit before wills could be dealt with etc, like, 5 years or something Sorry for sounding dim - Just a thought I'll get my coat then!!! xLynne

My grandfather was lost at sea in 1907. The captain made his record in the ships log which was handed in at the end of the voyage in Hamburg. A death cert was issued called Entry in the Marine Registers.You have to know the vessel's name to look up the entry for the ref from which to orde a copy, These are held at the FRC in London Shirley

I don't think you will get a death cert, I've been looking to get one for a relative lost at sea WW2 sent to gro told me there no record of him, (cost 11.50 for that and they charged me 4.50 to tell me they couldnt find him) another friend sent me a web site that said if they are lost at sea no death cert

Right guys, where you were, I have another contender dying 1865 in Greenwich. (I feel like dying now having trawled about 40 quarters of the bmd index) Now I would have liked to have seen this as St Olaves, Rotherhithe BUT, the thought struck me, a couple of weeks ago I sent off for another rellies death, again a mariner, again dying in Greenwich BECAUSE the Mariners Hospital is there - woo hoo. I think Ill spend the money on this one first anyway! Thanks for doubting me, that helped me look further afield. Bless you guys.

Heather. Absolutly the Seamans Hospital is at Greenwich so any deaths there would come under Greenwich reg. I,m from that area!!!!(not the hospital lol) Shirley

You just know a lot of mariners, eh??

Heather LoL I was a GOOD girl!! Well Had a Mum who I thought had Xray vision so just didnt dare!! Shirley

My rellie was lost at sea in Oct 1862. His body was never recovered and there is no death cert at any time. His widow (only 24 - poor girl) had to ''jump through hoops'' to get his will proved.........but it was done within a couple of months..... Merry

Grandad was in the Merchant Navy so that may have made a difference

Well Shirley on a general thread they were talking about the safety in London for visitors and I said totally honestly 'Well, I was walking round the docks last Saturday night and wasnt worried' It was only the next day I thought 'erm...'

Heather I,m a Londoner born & bred in Charlton,lived there till 1967, BUT theres areas of the suburbs now that I,m uncomfortable in even in the daylight. Shirley

My uncle was killed at sea during WW2'. He was in transit to war theatre when ship was bombed. He was in the army. When I visited the FRC in London I couldn't find a record of his death. I happened to ask a visitor if there was anywhere else that the records might be. He indicated to a section at the back of the room where the GRO records are kept. To the rear of the room was where the death records of service personnel killed in actionwere kept. We found my uncle's reference althought it was a tad out of alphabetical synch as had been added to the typewritten page by hand. I have his death certificate as we speak. Rita Rita

Heather I am not too sure but I think that they didn't issue cert. for anyone lost at sea. I have looked for my g Grandfather and can't find him Now I may be wrong but I am sure someone told me that they have records for lost seamen at KEW.? Germaine x site for you to look at. swop stars for dots. http://www*mariners-l*co*uk/UKDeathsAtSea*html